Aqua training - areas of application

• Training the healthy horse
  The aqua trainer is mainly used in healthy horses to increase their mobility  joints, build more muscle strength and train balance and coordination.
   

• Improvement in joint mobility
  The aqua trainer has a positive effect on the mobility of the legs and spine. The range of motion of the legs is already greater from the water at the height of the crown edge. The inclination of the pool is also significantly greater with water at the height of the crown edge. The lateral movement and rotation of the spine increases with increasing water height.
   

• Improve balance and coordination
  The aqua trainer "stimulates" the feedback of the nervous system, among other things, through the perception of water. Proprioception is the horse's perception of sensory cells to know where each part of the body is in space and to control movement (motor skills). For example, impaired proprioception is visible in horses with ataxia. Training proprioception also improves the horse's balance and straightness.
   

• improve strength
  Moving through water requires more muscle power than on dry land due to the back pressure of the water. In particular, the muscles in the thigh are addressed.
  In order to maintain stability during movement, the horse tightens its core muscles (stabilitymuscles in the back and abdomen) in the water.
  In the field of strength training, the higher the water level, the more back pressure there is from the water and the more muscle power is required to move forward. Muscle strength and especially stability are particularly important in the heavier lessons, which are required in many disciplines, such as pirouettes. Excessive training of these lessons under the saddle can lead to strains and damage to joints and tendons. If a movement is not sufficiently stabilized, there is an increased risk of injury for the horse. With the aqua trainer, the legs are loaded straight and the joints and tendons are relieved by the upward pressure. In this way, muscle strength can be optimally trained without the risks mentioned above.
   

• Rehabilitation of the injured horse
  The aqua trainer has already proven itself many times in the rehabilitation of horses in recent years. It is often used with positive results, especially in horses with tendon injuries, arthrosis and back problems. It is used in rehabilitation to be able to carry out controlled movements and thus to train mobility, muscle strength and coordination and to bring the basic condition up to date.
   

• controlled movement
  Any owner with an injured horse knows that the most difficult part of rehabilitation is getting their horse to move in a controlled manner. Due to the excess of energy, most horses make completely uncontrolled movements at the slightest stimulus, with all the associated risks. When training on the aqua trainer, the horses channel their energy as they have to do more muscular work to propel themselves forward. In addition, the walking pace of the horses is fully controllable.
   

• reduce stress
  Due to the buoyancy of the water, the body parts below the water level are less stressed. The higher the water level, the more buoyancy and the lower the load.
   

• reducing pain
  The hydrostatic pressure (water pressure) stimulates skin nerves that block the pain nerves. In addition, the hydrostatic counter-pressure ensures that in the event of edema (fluid between the cells, thick legs) the fluid is "pushed back" into the cells. The cold water temperature also cools the legs down immediately.
   

• Restoration of joint mobility
  In the event of an injury, the mobility of the joint decreases directly or indirectly. The aqua trainer increases mobility in various joints of both the spine and legs.
   

• Improve balance and coordination
  For horses with slight coordination problems, the aqua trainer is suitable for training proprioception. It is important that the water level and belt speed are as low as possible so that the horses have time to control their movements as well as possible. Horses with severe coordination problems have a greatly increased risk of falling on a treadmill and the aqua trainer is therefore not suitable for them.
   

• restore power
  When both legs and spine are injured, the stability muscles along the spine decrease. These stability muscles do not automatically increase in size unless specifically trained. The aqua trainer helps to train the torso/stability muscles.
  Horses with slight muscle weakness also benefit from the aqua trainer. It is important that the horse has been examined and is sure that there is no other underlying disease or injury.
  For healthy horses, training in the aqua trainer is a valuable change from daily training. Aquatraining can be used as strength training with a focus on the core muscles or as recovery training with a focus on balance and coordination.

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This is how the back muscles work in the Aquatrainer 

Due to the resistance of the water, muscle groups are increasingly stressed and thus built up. A well-trained muscular system relieves the strain on tendons and joints. This method is therefore an ideal training supplement for sport horses. This very gentle method of muscle building is also ideal for training young horses. Aqua training can also be incorporated into the training plan in a targeted manner to prepare for the season. Underperforming horses are motivated to do better.

In comparison: top: no water, middle: little water, bottom: more water